First Blockchain Educational Institution In Eastern Africa Funtrench Partners With Blockchain Training Alliance

Funtrench, the first blockchain educational institution in Eastern Africa, has announced a strategic partnership with US-based blockchain certification company, Blockchain Training Alliance (BTA).

The goal of the partnership is to boost Funtrench’s position in building an ecosystem of emerging technologies in Africa. This partnership puts Kenya as one of the African countries besides South Africa and Nigeria where BTA accredited blockchain courses are offered.

The collaboration with BTA will enable Funtrench to offer a wider range of certified blockchain-related courses in Kenya and to create a talent pool of individuals that are savvy in industry 4.0 technologies.

Making the announcement during the company launch in a Nairobi Hotel, Kingsley Ndiewo, CEO Funtrench Ltd said: “Funtrench is not just a business; Funtrench is a revolution. We are happy to be officially launching our company ten months after opening our blockchain campus in Parklands, Nairobi. Moreover, we are grateful that we have been nominated for the 2019 Katerva Award in human development. Our idea of a talent ecosystem is somewhat similar to the Japanese keiretsu whose interlocking parts establish a self-sustaining system. We, therefore, believe that collaboration works better than competing. That is why we are striving to partner with institutions like BTA.”

Funtrench Limited is a Kenyan technology company that is focused on the provision of training, solutions and infrastructure for distributed ledger technologies and machine learning. The company was founded in 2008 with a focus on software development and later opened a blockchain campus in Parklands in 2018.

Chad Decker, CEO Blockchain Training Alliance asserted: “Our strategic partnership with Funtrench was ignited through their passion for education. Funtrench is nominated for the 2019 Katerva Award in Human Development, recognizing Funtrench’s goal of global sustainability for the Kenyan workforce. We are delighted to collaborate with Funtrench and look forward to achieving our joint goals in helping to bring immense value to individuals and companies.”

Funtrench focuses on practical training where learners are instilled with skills to build solutions based on emerging technologies that address African problems. To this end, Funtrench has joined hands with Nairobi-based tertiary institution Oshwal College and Kenyan NGO AkiraChix to offer courses in blockchain foundation, blockchain developer, Python programming, and game development.

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Speaking during the launch, Hon Michael Onyango, a member of Kenya’s Blockchain and AI taskforce observed:  “The advent of emerging technologies continues to disrupt global trade, labor markets, and our local informal sector.  The fourth industrial revolution is driven by emerging technologies that are totally dependent on skilled knowledgeable human resource. Today’s formal launch of Funtrench’s services coinciding with their nomination for the 2019 Katerva Award in Human Development, is a clear sign that Funtrench has positioned Africa’s place as a homegrown African agenda at par with global industry standards within the development of local talent and the development of startups within emerging technologies.”

Funtrench is set to roll out machine learning and augmented reality courses in the near future to further promote the adoption of emerging technologies in Africa and beyond.